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The Radio 2 host was nicknamed 'Mr Shouty' and a 'poor man's Clarkson' as fans criticised his 'no banter' presenting style - he spent yesterday in his local park drinking from a flask.

Sunday's instalment, which featured a trip to Kazakhstan and an interview with Scottish actor James McAvoy, fared much better, with viewers saying on social media that it was a 'massive improvement' and it had made 'a promising start'.

But the new series debut brought in 2.8million viewers when Chris Evans' debut last year had 4.4million.

One wrote: 'Hadn't laughed at an episode of Top Gear for three years. That changed tonight'. Another said that it only took seconds to see the improvement.

literally seven seconds in and the new “top gear” is better without chris evans.

'Top Gear is back and it was so sweet I could have licked it,' said another.

LeBlanc, 49, was called 'a natural' as a presenter and several people said the programme was better without Evans, who quit after the last series saying he gave it his best shot but that it was 'not enough'.

One person wrote: '5 Seconds in and new #TopGear without Chris Evans looks 9,999,999 times better already.'

10 minutes in and I already know this series is better than the last #TopGear

Another said: 'Just watched new #TopGear. Sooo much more better now that Chris Evans isn't on it! Well done, good choice!'

'The new series of #TopGear is very watchable, well done lads!! More car focused, entertaining, funny and beautifully filmed,' wrote another pleased viewer.

But although there was plenty of good will for LeBlanc, the first non-British host in the programme's 40-year history, it seems there is no replacing the old trio of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May in the audience's hearts.

One person tweeted: 'Top Gear will never be the same without @JeremyClarkson & co but new series def better than last one.'